Abstract

Most women have experienced menstrual pain or cramps at some point in their lives. Menstrual pain can be described as a crampy, lower abdominal pain. The pain can be a sharp pain that comes and goes or dull and throbbing. Some women may also experience back pain. The pain generally starts a few days before or at the start of the menstrual period and becomes less as the menstrual bleeding tapers off. For most women, the pain is simply annoying, but other women may experience pain so severe that it interferes with daily activities.